PlayStation and Nintendo Raise All the Prices
PlayStation (and Nintendo) Raise All the Prices
Price increases come for us all these days. Only seems fair to document that both Nintendo and Sony have increased the prices of their consoles just like Microsoft did almost four months ago.
"Similar to many global businesses, we continue to navigate a challenging economic environment. As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to increase the recommended retail price for PlayStation 5 consoles in the U.S. starting on August 21."
"Pricing for the original Nintendo Switch™ family of systems and products will change in the United States based on market conditions, effective August 3, 2025. These include Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite and select Nintendo Switch accessories."
And here is a table for you all.1
| Console SKU | Price "Yesterday" | Price Today |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch Lite | $199.99 | $229.99 |
| Nintendo Switch | $299.99 | $339.99 |
| Nintendo Switch OLED | $349.99 | $399.99 |
| PlayStation 5 Digital Edition | $449.99 | $499.99 |
| PlayStation 5 | $499.99 | $549.99 |
| PlayStation 5 Pro | $699.99 | $749.99 |
Now the price delta between a maxed out Xbox Series X and a PS5 Pro isn't as funny. Oh well.
It feels wild that when I bought each of these consoles, I was buying them at their cheapest price. While these prices should be temporary, I wonder the impact these increases will have on current sales and how companies approach pricing their next consoles.
Nintendo is holding the line with Switch 2 at the moment. I think that is only because it just came out and already had its negative wave of feedback on the price. The fact a Switch OLED and the Switch 2 are just $50 apart now feels like a no brainer to upgrade to the new hotness.
The PS5 is in-line with or exceeding PS4's sales at the same time in its lifecycle—and the PS5 has always cost $100+ more than the PS4 did at launch. To maintain those kinds of sales figures at the much higher price is nutty. Now with the PS5 Pro pushing the $700+ price point, one has to wonder what the PS6 will cost in 2-3 years. Does this bump cause an aggressive reduction in sales? Or do those figures keep on marching and possibly encourage a higher starting price for the PS6?
Even Xbox isn't out of the woods. The new ROG Xbox Ally handheld launches in two months and the companies are remaining mum on the price to figure out "macro-economic" conditions.2 The leaked pricing suggests $549.99 and $899.99, which is more than every possible home console option on the market today, even a PS5 Pro with a disc drive added on. What.
In whipping this post up, I went back and read my piece Where Did the Price Drops Go?.
"The console price drop hasn't disappeared; it's been relocated...
...The price cuts may be gone, but I think the pathways into the hobby left behind more than make up for an exciting marketing beat mid-generation. All of this research reminds me how accessible and affordable gaming really is now in my life. Sure, that's not a problem for 30-year-old me with a budget and disposable income, but it does make me a little jealous of the kids. I think the video game ecosystem has grown into something better that is accessible and accommodating."
I stand by my final assessment, but when the low-end of the widest price range in console pricing shifts upward...that's a bitter pill to swallow. I don't know how many will be willing to take it during this economic season.